UNC reconciliation in limbo

Former UNC government minister Trevor Sudama told Newsday that since he met with Panday while he (Panday) was incarcerated at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca last week, he has not been contacted by anyone from the UNC for reconciliation talks.

In light of Panday’s utterances in Rio Claro, Sudama said "The situation (in the UNC at the time he left) remained as it was" but he remained open to the idea of reconciliation since it was necessary for an effective political counterbalance to keep the ruling PNM in check.

The former minister stressed that reform of the UNC must accompany any reconciliation and regardless of any public statements which party financier Jack Warner made on the issue, final judgment rested solely in Panday’s hands.

Following Panday’s second appearance at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday to answer corruption charges against him, UNC party organiser Sadiq Baksh claimed that he had been speaking with several former UNC MPs to encourage them back into the fold. When pressed by reporters for specifics, Baksh was sketchy on the details and would only say that talks were ongoing.

Sudama also cleared the air on several erroneous reports that he reconciled with Panday in prison. He said they only shook hands and never discussed any political matters when they met.

Sudama reiterated that the encounter was simply a meeting between two old friends and nothing more. Panday will reappear in court on June 17.

Former UNC attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has indicated that he will not rejoin the party unless there was a significant and meaningful reforms in the UNC. Maharaj was also approached by Warner during the time Panday was in prison. The former AG confirmed that he had been in communication with Warner but indicated that his position remains the same.

Independent UNC MPs Dr Fuad Khan and Gillian Lucky also informed Newsday yesterday that there had been no attempt by the party’s leadership to reconcile with them.

Khan said it was clear to him that the "My way or the highway" attitude adopted by the leadership of both the UNC and PNM was the reason many intelligent persons were disillusioned about the state of politics in TT today.

He added that people could be wrong, must learn to admit when they are wrong and only God was never wrong.

Contacted yesterday, Lucky said nobody from the UNC had contacted her to date about reconciliation. The Pointe-a-Pierre MP said she remained adamant that "professional integrity must reign supreme in the politics (of TT)" and that was her unyielding position.

Lucky added that she would not attempt to persuade others (including members of the UNC) to this mindset if they had an alternate point-of-view.

Both Maharaj and Warner are out of the country and were unavailable to comment on Panday’s stance.